Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers. From the award-winning author of Ada’s Violin, Susan Hood,

Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers. From the award-winning author of Ada’s Violin, Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual picture book that celebrates persistent women throughout history.

Among the powerful pairings: Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall takes on heroic World War II spies Eileen and Jacqueline Nearne; Selina Alko is matched with the brave Malala Yousafzai; New York Times bestselling illustrator Emily Winfield Martin is paired with the inventor of the controversial one-piece bathing suit, Annette Kellerman; and Shadra Strickland introduces America’s first known female firefighter, Molly Williams.

While women make up over half of the U.S. population, they face discrimination, have less representation in government and other fields, and struggle every day for their human rights. It is more important now than ever to raise a generation of girls who, in the face of adversity, persevere. This book was written, illustrated, edited, and designed by women.

Includes a foreword by a prominent female activist, an author’s note, a timeline, and additional resources.

Another inspiring biography collection of women who changed the world with a focus on younger rebel girls. There were a few I didn't know about so I was glad to read their stories. Includes a timeline and additional resources.

This book was AMAZING! I was so surprised about how much I didn't know. It focuses on letting little girls know and understand that they can be anything that they want to be and in a serious way. The 14 young women and girls in this book faced adversity, doubters, and even their lives to fight for what they loved most whether that was the opportunity to fly into space or find new inventive ways for cancer research. Each individual highlighted had a short free-verse poem and then their biography This book was AMAZING! I was so surprised about how much I didn't know. It focuses on letting little girls know and understand that they can be anything that they want to be and in a serious way. The 14 young women and girls in this book faced adversity, doubters, and even their lives to fight for what they loved most whether that was the opportunity to fly into space or find new inventive ways for cancer research. Each individual highlighted had a short free-verse poem and then their biography was briefly discussed at the bottom of the page. I loved the illustrations that accompanied the text. They were bright vivid and well designed for the intended audience. I also appreciated that the author took time to pull include a quote by each picture that directly related to the person being discussed. I actually learned a lot reading this book and I look forward to reading more books like this. This is definitely one that I plan to share with my daughter when she gets older. ...more

You want to stand up and cheer. It's as if everything you are taught to believe, everything you feel in your heart, is true. Their accomplishments are an inspiration. Their accomplishments changed and continue to alter conventional thought one woman at a time; bringing hope to other women then and now.

They dared to be different fueled by their knowledge and faith in themselves. Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed The World (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, January 23, 201You want to stand up and cheer. It's as if everything you are taught to believe, everything you feel in your heart, is true. Their accomplishments are an inspiration. Their accomplishments changed and continue to alter conventional thought one woman at a time; bringing hope to other women then and now.

They dared to be different fueled by their knowledge and faith in themselves. Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed The World (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, January 23, 2018) written by Susan Hood with illustrations by Selina Alko, Sophie Blackall, Lisa Brown, Hadley Hooper, Emily Winfield Martin, Oge Mora, Julie Morstad, Sara Palacios, LeUyen Pham, Erin K. Robinson, Isabel Roxas, Shadra Strickland and Melissa Sweet is a poetic and artistic tribute to young women of distinction. As you read the final poem graced by distinguished artwork, you might, as I did, wonder about a dinner with all these women in attendance. Can you imagine the conversations?

This is a wonderful collection of biographies in verse about important women in history. Some of the women are quite well known while others were explorations of lesser known heroines. I live that each biography is illustrated by a different female illustrator to powerful effect. The back matter is quite excellent too!

I would have given this book 5 stars if it was not for the glaring issue with the first biography of Molly Williams. It is stated that Williams was a servant but her status was liThis is a wonderful collection of biographies in verse about important women in history. Some of the women are quite well known while others were explorations of lesser known heroines. I live that each biography is illustrated by a different female illustrator to powerful effect. The back matter is quite excellent too!

I would have given this book 5 stars if it was not for the glaring issue with the first biography of Molly Williams. It is stated that Williams was a servant but her status was likely as an enslaved woman. That distinction cannot be simply overlooked. I wondered about it when I read her biography and then read this review by Leila Roy: http://www.bookshelvesofdoom.org/blog.... How do you rate a book that exposes the hidden histories of amazing women but also minimizes (hides/doesn’t discuss?) an important fact about one of the women? I am going with 4 stars for now but may change that if I read more that shifts my perspective....more

This is a very female centric book. The book's subjects, editor, and artists are all women and I loved it. I was not expecting the stories about the young women to be poems but it was a pleasant surprise. My favorite poem was "Buried Treasure" about Mary Anning. It's in the shape of the fossil she discovered which was a very cool visual. I added some source materials to my to-read list. I hadn't heard of most these people and was a little interested to read more about a few of them.

I can't think of very many nonfiction poetry books. This one is pretty awesome. It definitely introduces readers to extraordinary women in a way that is a lot more fun than reading your average nonfiction book. The illustrations are great as well.

There is so much to love in this book: the artistry, the poetry, the women selected, and every single one of those womens’ accomplishments. I love the variety: firefighting, astronaut, investigative journalist, spy, advocate, architect, athlete, librarian & story teller, spies, and research scientist. Some names you’ll recognize but many you will have not heard before.

Wonderfully researched and carefully noted. Plus, there is a timeline and section of sources/additional resources. The story of eThere is so much to love in this book: the artistry, the poetry, the women selected, and every single one of those womens’ accomplishments. I love the variety: firefighting, astronaut, investigative journalist, spy, advocate, architect, athlete, librarian & story teller, spies, and research scientist. Some names you’ll recognize but many you will have not heard before.

Wonderfully researched and carefully noted. Plus, there is a timeline and section of sources/additional resources. The story of each woman is told through a brief poem; so much conveyed with so few words. Each woman also is illustrated by one of 13 illustrators who contributed their artistry to the project. This is truly a masterpiece and treasure....more

I don't tend to love picturebooks told in poetry, but I found these poems engaging (and you can learn more about the poetic styles Hood used on on the HarperCollins website). And there's some text at the bottom of each page providing more information about the woman in question.

And we get 13 different (women!) illustrators, so even though there's a single author, there's a variety of poetic and illustrative styles.

I think only 6 of the 14 women are white. Most are USian, though there's also FridI don't tend to love picturebooks told in poetry, but I found these poems engaging (and you can learn more about the poetic styles Hood used on on the HarperCollins website). And there's some text at the bottom of each page providing more information about the woman in question.

And we get 13 different (women!) illustrators, so even though there's a single author, there's a variety of poetic and illustrative styles.

I think only 6 of the 14 women are white. Most are USian, though there's also Frida Kahlo, Malala Yousafzai, and 3 Brits.

Even though I've been reading a lot of picturebook biographies of women these last couple years, there were still some women I had never heard of. Spy sisters Jacqueline and Eileen Nearne where is my movie about them?! (Okay, the notes mention "1947 British docudrama film all about SOE agents set in France after the Liberation, starring Jacqueline Nearne herself! School for Danger, www.wn.com/jacqueline_nearne")

I also appreciated the timeline at the beginning -- placing the 14 women in relation to each other and to certain major historical moments.

Tthe notes at the back assert that the 1908 tongue twister “She sells seashells by the seashore,” by Terry Sullivan, was inspired by Mary Anning (who dug up and sold fossils to provide for her family after her father's death).

The Mae Jemison poem asserts that "A Wrinkle in Time / and Star Trek's Uhura / say women can be scientists, / even rocket scientists." I had heard about the Uhura part, but not the L'Engle part. <3 And this makes me even more delighted about the Ava DuVernay adaptation. (I'm also really intrigued by the poem's assertion that she was scared of the dark and of heights -- given her future as an astronaut.)

I didn't love the use of the term "broken" to refer to Frida Kahlo's experience of polio and the bus accident (and in fact as a title of the poem -- I get using ~simple language for a young audience, but you're not doing disabled folks any favors here), but I did appreciate the way the Maya Lin poem talked about the Vietnam War Memorial (especially after the "carved with heroes' names" line in Joan Holub's This Little Trailblazer: A Girl Power Primer). I also don't think I'd realized she won this 1,441-entry competition unanimously -- which makes it even more frustrating that after her age, gender, and ethnicity were revealed she had to appear before Congress to defend her vision.

A New Vision

Maya Lin, Architect and Sculptor

In 1981, entry #1026 wona competitionto build a memorialto the fallen soldiers of Vietnam--a controversial twenty-year warwhere so many had died.

When Maya Lin's name was revealed,some were outraged thatsomeone so young, just twenty-one,someone Asian American,someone femalehad bested the best architectsto honor men killed in Vietnamin a war we had not won.

Maya's designwas not perched high on a pedestalbut carved into the ground,a long walk downinto the earthand then back out again.

"I imagined taking a knifeand cutting into the earth," she said.Like war, it would create a woundthat would heal with time but leave a scar.

Maya's design showed not a face or twobut more than 58,000 names--spelling out, one by one,just how many were lost;it was not madeof traditional pure white marblebut black-as-night granite.

Maya Lin knew that,polished to a high shine,black granite is a mirrorfor those who have come to reflect,those present who gaze into the past.

After all,what should a war memorial do?Unearth memory,make us cry,see ourselves,and then lead us back upinto hope,into the light.

Susan Hood, author of "Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World," wrote a beautiful tribute for each woman represented in this story. Throughout this book, each woman has a beautiful illustration and an inspirational poem. The poems tell the story of the paths the fourteen women blazed through, therefore opening doors open for other women. The styles of the poems vary for each woman, this showed the author's appreciation for their individuality. There were many women represented wSusan Hood, author of "Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World," wrote a beautiful tribute for each woman represented in this story. Throughout this book, each woman has a beautiful illustration and an inspirational poem. The poems tell the story of the paths the fourteen women blazed through, therefore opening doors open for other women. The styles of the poems vary for each woman, this showed the author's appreciation for their individuality. There were many women represented who I had never heard of, which leads me to how this was a "WOW" book for me. The diversity displayed throughout the book was amazing, it shows the reader that it takes all types of people to create change, not just one. With each poem, the reader can see how women can have many different paths in the world. They can be anything that they want to be, if they are driven. Firefighters, astronauts, scientists, architects, and artists were a few careers that were mentioned with each trailblazer. I feel that this is an important book to have in the classroom as young as kindergarten ages. Now, I don't expect kindergartners to be able to read the poems and fully understand the weight of the words, but teachers could use the illustrations provided to have around the classroom. Having successful women displayed around the classroom at a young age can help inspire young minds. We always see successful men depicted in classrooms, but there are only a few women, if any displayed. These illustrations could continue to be in classrooms all the way through fifth grade. Then first through fifth grade I believe that the poems should be read aloud to the students. This opens the door to conversations and open-dialogue within the classroom. I am currently observing in third grade, so the first activity that I would use as an extension of, "Shaking Things Up," would extend over a period of time. Each week we would read two poems and dive deeper into background information and the style of the poem. Then students would have the opportunity to choose one of the two women and create a poem for that individual. They will include an illustration. I really want to take the time for my students to understand the magnitude of what these women accomplished by breaking the book down to two poems each week. Another activity that I would incorporate would be for students to think of a way that they could create change in the world and create a poem about why they want to make this change. Along with an illustration of them succeeding in creating this change.

It is important for all students to see, hear, and learn about the diversity in change. Each person brings their own set of attributes into the world, and it is our job as educators to help our students realize that they are capable of anything. That is another reason that this is a "WOW" book for me, it shows children how to persevere. "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations," said Mae Jemison, one of the many incredible women represented in "Shaking Things Up". ...more

Best known as a recording by Jerry Lee Lewis, this book reminds me of the song "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Dave "Curlee" Williams. And in this book, from the early 1730s to 2014, Susan Hood chronicles fourteen girls and women, also states it was hard to narrow the list to only fourteen. Wouldn't it be great to read this to students and have them search for other names to discover and write about? I wish I could show you every page! While Susan Hood has written "just right" poems that tell Best known as a recording by Jerry Lee Lewis, this book reminds me of the song "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Dave "Curlee" Williams. And in this book, from the early 1730s to 2014, Susan Hood chronicles fourteen girls and women, also states it was hard to narrow the list to only fourteen. Wouldn't it be great to read this to students and have them search for other names to discover and write about? I wish I could show you every page! While Susan Hood has written "just right" poems that tell each story, each of those stories are illustrated by a different artist, some I recognized from other wonderful picture books, some I did not but they are each unique and clever. This cover and the opening, double-spread title page by Oge Mora shows Ruby Bridges, the youngest who "shook things up". There is a timeline, a full-page illustration and a smaller one accompanying the poems. The poems vary in style and form, alluring in their own right and sometimes connected to the person. For instance, there is a "shape poem" for Mary Anning, words woven into an outlined picture of her "find", a fossil of an ancient sea turtle/ichthyosaur. The blues and greys of England's coast show Mary at her happiest, finding fossils to sell to help her family. Susan Hood also added a brief one or two line summary of the main part of these stories. Sometimes the actions came from personal need, like the fight for a proper, unencumbered bathing suit helped Annette Kellerman shed her pantaloons for a sleeker swimsuit, forcing "streamlining" so she could swim comfortably. Illustrations by Emily Winfield Martin show a sleek swimmer about to dive in with women in the background only wading in their pantaloons. One of my favorite stories, among ALL, is about Frances Moore Lappé illustrated by Melissa Sweet, showing a truck hauling the earth with its wealth, food from plants. I have this ground-breaking Diet for A Small Planet that changed the way many eat in the Nineteen-Seventies and on. According to the text, she was only twenty-seven when she wrote "Hunger is human made." There is an additional author's note and more pages of sources, books, websites, and more! I imagine this book could underlie a marvelous curriculum of learning in many classrooms....more

This book is comprised as a series of short poems, illustration and a brief biography of each of these young women. All of whom changed the world before they were 30. These women are unique and though the book does touch on some names like 6 yr. old civil rights pioneer Ruby Bridges , or Latina artist, Frida Kahlo, Mae Jemison, the First African American Astronaut, or even current education activist, who was 17 years old when she became the youngest recipient of Nobel Peace Prize, Malala YousafzThis book is comprised as a series of short poems, illustration and a brief biography of each of these young women. All of whom changed the world before they were 30. These women are unique and though the book does touch on some names like 6 yr. old civil rights pioneer Ruby Bridges , or Latina artist, Frida Kahlo, Mae Jemison, the First African American Astronaut, or even current education activist, who was 17 years old when she became the youngest recipient of Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai....the book shows off some women other people may not be as familiar with:

-Molly Williams, the 1st Female Firefighter and she was also African American, and there wouldn't be a female firefighter until 1982.

-Mary Anning, the 13 year old who is known for the poem "She sells seashells by the sea shore" but check out her amazing paleontology story

-Nellie Bly, who traveled around the world in 72 Days, and was a prolific investigative journalist-Annette Kellerman, who shocked the world with the first one-piece bathing suit (scandal!) -Pura Belpre-First Latina Librarian-Jacqueline and Eileen Nearne-undercover spy and wireless operator sisters in World War 2-Frances Moore Lappe, Anti Hunger Activist-Maya Lin, Architectural Designer of the Vietnam Memorial-Angela Zhang, the 17 year old inventor who created a cancer-detecting nanoparticle...

These women are amazing, some who are still alive, others who paved the way, despite adversity whether it be for race, social class, or usually and sadly, their sex. These women, their stories and their poems are awesome! Something for every reader to learn from and appreciate.

Shaking Things Up is the best book. I was crying by the end. I love that it combines poetry and nonfiction, especially because my class just started talking about how diversity of the poetry genre. I am so excited to bring in a book and say, “look, poetry can be nonfiction too!”

My one gripe is this, and I think it is very important but should not color your entire opinion of the book. On page 9 it states that, “Williams was a servant of volunteer firefighter James Aymar.” Now, knowing that thisShaking Things Up is the best book. I was crying by the end. I love that it combines poetry and nonfiction, especially because my class just started talking about how diversity of the poetry genre. I am so excited to bring in a book and say, “look, poetry can be nonfiction too!”

My one gripe is this, and I think it is very important but should not color your entire opinion of the book. On page 9 it states that, “Williams was a servant of volunteer firefighter James Aymar.” Now, knowing that this story took place in early 1780, and Williams is black, I just….got a feeling that that was not exactly the relationship she had with Aymar. According to my Google search, sure enough she was actually held as an enslaved person by James Aymar. While I understand wanting to give Wiliams agency over her story, I do not think that this is best practiced by revising U.S. History. I would suggest either changing it to either reflect the truth of the relationship or not acknowledging his name in her story.

That is the one word of this story that is not entirely perfect. And I wish I was better at describing the many ways in which this book absolutely knocks it out of the park. The quotes are amazing. The poems are amazing, the diversity of the verse used is amazing, the illustrations are amazing, and of course, these WOMEN are amazing. I am so happy to have this book to share with my students. ...more

Shaking Things Up is a wonderful book about 14 young girls who had a lasting impact on the world. Each time you turn the page you are delighted with a wonderful illustration and a powerful in verse story about one of the 14 young girls included in this book.

I would use this in a fourth or fifth grade classroom, and read the book aloud to the class. Then I would assign one girl from the book to each group. They would then have to do a research project on that young InformationalGrades 3rd and up

Shaking Things Up is a wonderful book about 14 young girls who had a lasting impact on the world. Each time you turn the page you are delighted with a wonderful illustration and a powerful in verse story about one of the 14 young girls included in this book.

I would use this in a fourth or fifth grade classroom, and read the book aloud to the class. Then I would assign one girl from the book to each group. They would then have to do a research project on that young woman. After their research they would have to create an inverse writing or poem about their young women with the new information they learned about them, and present it to the class. You could also use this book in a third or fourth grade classroom. I would read the book to the class and then they would have to draw a picture and create an inverse writing or poem about the most influential person in their life.

This is a wow book because the impact it has, but it is done in a non-overwhelming way. This book can be used in so many different ways, and with so many different ages. Its message is so powerful for male and female students, it shows how you can do things you and others never thought possible....more

Shaking Things Up tells the stories of 14 young women who, through their persistence and determination, sparked change in the world and paved the way for the next generation of female trailblazers and activists.

Each character has a two page spread, one with her portrait by a well know artist, the other page with her story told in poetry format by Susan Hood. Each page looks different because the artist is different and the type of poetry is different. There are also a "mini biographies" at the Shaking Things Up tells the stories of 14 young women who, through their persistence and determination, sparked change in the world and paved the way for the next generation of female trailblazers and activists.

Each character has a two page spread, one with her portrait by a well know artist, the other page with her story told in poetry format by Susan Hood. Each page looks different because the artist is different and the type of poetry is different. There are also a "mini biographies" at the bottom of each page that give additional information on each woman.

There is a nice representation of women here, some famous and some not so famous. There are so many other strong women who didn't make the cut. Hopefully Susan Hood with write additions to this book....more

Genre: Collective BiographyAwards: Audience: Grades 3-5A. This book contains biographies and stories of 14 young women, so all of the biographies are partial, because it is only sharing a portion of each young woman's life.B. These biographies are authentic biographies because these are actual things that these young girls/women did and experienced in their lives.C. 1) How did Ruby Bridges stand up for segregation at such a young age? 2) What are all of these women doing today?

A great picture book that introduces extraordinary young women who helped change the world (and who still are). The illustrations are great, but the prose is better! Just a great intro to some truly kick ass women to help inspire a new generation!

I love that this book focuses on YOUNG women. This book shows young girls that success is attainable and science is rewarding. The extra bonus was that each girl was illustrated by a different female artist.